The Bishop Gray Inns Foundation
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Learn how your gift helps people like Marge Dewey
and others.
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The Bishop Gray Inns Foundation provides financial resources
to enable those of us who have been exceptionally blessed with plenty to
help provide for the physical, emotional and religious needs of the
individuals it serves.
Scholarship Program Guidelines
Purpose
The Bishop Gray Inns Foundation Scholarship Program
is intended to help elderly Episcopalians from the Southeast, Southwest,
and Central Dioceses of Florida, who have faithfully served their parish
or diocese, obtain quality housing and healthcare. The scholarship
funds are to be used only for those who can demonstrate a financial
need.
Applicant Requirements
To be eligible for the Bishop Gray Inns scholarship
program an individual must:
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Be age 62 or older
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Be an Episcopalian in good standing with a
history of involvement in the life of an Episcopal church in the
Southeast, Southwest, or Central Diocese of Florida
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Have very limited assets (funds designated for
burial purposes are excluded)
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Have a referral from a clergy member of the
individual’s parish describing the amount of involvement the
individual has had in the parish or diocese
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Have a net income (after paying medical expenses)
of less than the monthly fee required
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Have Medicare and a Medicare Supplemental
Insurance (if don’t qualify for Medicaid)
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Apply for Community Medicaid
For those residents who are receiving scholarships,
a periodic assessment will be made by the C.A.R.E.S. team of the
Medicaid program to determine when the resident meets nursing home
Medicaid requirements.
In the event Medicaid eligibility for the
Institutional Care Program (ICP) is established, scholarship support
will no longer be necessary and will be discontinued. If previously
undisclosed assets are discovered during the Medicaid application
process, all funds distributed during the scholarship period must be
refunded to the Bishop Gray Inns Foundation.
We encourage the scholarship applicant to consider
requesting that their parish pay a monthly stipend of at least $100.00
to be used toward their incidental needs, and to commit to periodic
visits to the scholarship recipient by members of the sponsoring church.
Facility Requirements
To be an eligible retirement facility for
participation in the Bishop Gray Inns Foundation scholarship program,
the facility must:
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Have rental apartments available (requiring no
entrance fee)
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Have a reasonably priced monthly fee which
includes 3 meals/day (if meals are provided)
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Be in good standing with the Florida Department
of Financial Services or the Agency for Health Care Administration,
holding a valid license if skilled nursing, assisted living, or home
health care is provided
Personal Allowance
A monthly personal allowance of up to $100 will be
allocated to be used for incidental needs and may vary proportionate to
the amount of any direct financial support contributed from other
sources such as family, friends, or the individual’s church or other
organization.
Upon discontinuation of scholarship funds, due to
death or Medicaid ICP eligibility, any remaining funds must be refunded
to the Bishop Gray Inns Foundation, except for designated burial funds.
Deposit
Any required deposits shall be paid by the Bishop
Gray Inns Foundation, and must be refunded to the Foundation when the
scholarship is discontinued.
Asset Exclusions
Homestead Property: Property is not counted as an
asset if either the individual’s spouse or dependent relative are living
in the home, or if the individual intends to return home.
Burial Funds: Up to $2,500 of an individual’s
countable assets may be excluded if designated as a burial fund (a
pre-paid burial contract is preferred).
Right to Appeal
Any person who applies for or receives scholarship
assistance may appeal any decision made on the application or any
termination of benefits if he or she believes the action was incorrect
or unfair. The appeal must be made in writing and should be addressed
to the Bishop Gray Inns Foundation.
Responsibility of Applicants and Recipients
Applicants must accurately report all income,
resources, and other facts that could affect their eligibility for
scholarship. Applicants and recipients must immediately report any
changes in their situation that might affect their eligibility or the
amount of the scholarship.
Confidentiality
The records of applicants and of those people
receiving scholarships will be kept confidential, except for the purpose
of administering the program.
Services Covered by the Scholarship
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Room and Board (3 meals per day) if facility
provides meals
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Medical Expenses up to $10,000 per year
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Health Insurance Premiums
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Assisted Living up to $10,000 per year (if
applicant demonstrates a need for it)
Note: An application for Medicaid must be made
before AL costs will be considered
Assisted Living Services
Assisted Living services consist of personal and
individualized assistance given to residents who require it. The
services range from medication monitoring to assistance with dressing,
bathing, laundry, and transportation around the facility by wheelchair
if needed. Applicants needing these services will be required to apply
for Medicaid benefits before they will be considered.
Transfer of Assets
The transfer of an asset (for less than the fair
market value) by the individual, spouse, or legal representative within
36 months of application may cause ineligibility. The period of
ineligibility will vary depending on the value of the transferred asset
but cannot exceed 36 months. The applicant/recipient may transfer his
homestead to one of the following relatives:
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Spouse
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Blind or disabled child, to be used as his/her
primary residence
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Sibling who has equity interest in the home and
has resided there at least one year prior to the applicant’s admission
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Son or daughter who was residing in the home for
at least two years immediately before application was made and who
provided care that delayed the application process
The scholarship recipient may transfer any resource
to his/ her spouse or blind or disabled adult child.
Payment to Facility
All of the scholarship recipient’s monthly income,
less the $100 personal allowance and the monthly premium owed for health
insurance, must be paid to the facility toward the monthly fee. In
certain situations, part of the individual’s income may be set aside for
the spouse or dependents.
Medicaid
If applicant is not yet on Medicaid and meets the
income and asset requirements to be eligible, an application must be
made to the appropriate office of the Department of Children and
Families in order to determine if applicant is eligible to receive any
Medicaid benefits, including Community Medicaid.
Scholarship Renewal
At the end of each calendar year, the scholarship
recipient must provide all updated financial information for the coming
year in order to have his/her scholarship renewed.
Scholarships are approved for a time period of one
year only, and must be reviewed and renewed annually.
The Board of Trustees reserves the right to
discontinue scholarship assistance if it is determined that the
individual no longer meets the requirements for eligibility.
Where to Apply
To apply for the Bishop Gray Inns Foundation
Scholarship Program, please contact Ginger Van Valkenburgh, Executive
Director, Bishop Gray Inns Foundation, at the following address: |
